Saving to travel: our 7 tips for planning your next holiday

Travelling is a passion for many, an opportunity to discover new cultures, breathtaking landscapes and create unforgettable holiday memories. However, the dream of travelling the world can be expensive. How can you turn your desire to explore into reality without breaking the bank? Budgeting, planning, saving: discover 7 tips for saving and preparing for your next trip with peace of mind. 🌴

1. DRAW UP A BUDGET FOR YOUR TRIP

Depending on your dream destination, your budget may not be the same. Start by finding out how much your trip is likely to cost: transport costs, accommodation, meals, activities, unforeseen expenses - everything needs to be taken into account when drawing up your budget. Write down each expense in a table and define the total amount you need to manage to save.

💸 Our tip for saving money when travelling: remember to book early! By booking your holiday as early as possible (hotel, train, plane, etc), you can take advantage of discounts and make savings on your travel budget.

Having trouble getting organised to save? Check out our advice on defining your objectives according to your project.

1. OPEN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT DEDICATED TO YOUR TRIP

Unless you've won the lottery (in which case you'd be very lucky!), preparing for a trip requires saving, and without proper financial management, the savings earmarked for this adventure can get lost in day-to-day expenses. The solution: open a savings account dedicated to your travel plans. This creates a clear separation and ensures that the money intended for your trip stays nice and warm.

A separate savings account, such as a bank passbook, makes keeping track of your travel savings simple and effortless. You can easily check how much you have set aside and how much you still need to save.

1. épargne AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS INTO YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Are you afraid you won't be disciplined enough or that you won't put money aside regularly? Automate your transfers and save every month without even realising it! 

By automating your transfers to your dedicated travel savings account, you establish a routine and your savings are transferred at regular intervals (weekly, monthly, etc.), ensuring that your savings grow steadily and predictably. What's more, automated transfers remove the burden of remembering to transfer money manually - handy if you're on the lazy team!  

An unexpected event? Most banks and financial applications allow you to fully customise your automatic transfers. You can choose the amount, the frequency, and even adjust the settings if you need to.

1. USE AN APPLICATION TO SAVE AND MANAGE YOUR BUDGET

Worried about managing your money on a day-to-day basis? Then get organised! There are lots of apps that can help you track and manage your budget in preparation for your trip. Use them to get an overview of your spending and make adjustments along the way.

These apps not only make the savings process easier, but also more fun and motivating. From your phone or tablet, you can track your spending habits, see your progress, the money you've saved and identify areas where you could save more. Some apps even offer to turn saving into a game, with challenges and rewards. 

Good to know 💡Our Birdee app lets you create an investment portfolio dedicated to your travel (or other!) project, which matches the level of risk you want to take and your solidarity and responsible commitments 🌱

Another positive point is that savings apps generally have robust security measures to protect your financial information. Manage your money with confidence and peace of mind!

1. PLAN YOUR LONG-TERM SAVINGS

You can't plan a trip at the last minute. That's why you need to take a long-term view of your savings. Plan your trip at least a year in advance to give yourself time to save enough. Good organisation and anticipation also mean less stress. You know exactly what you need to do and you can monitor your progress month by month. What's more, if you plan well in advance, you'll be better able to deal with the unexpected and adjust your savings plan as you go along. 

With a good dose of organisation and long-term savings, trips or projects that may seem out of reach become feasible. Whether it's a trip around the world or a holiday to a destination you've been dreaming of for a long time, long-term planning can help you make your dream trip a reality.

1. bonus SAVE EVERY NEW BONUS CASH-IN

13ᵉ month, holiday bonus, end-of-year bonus, it all counts! If you can, put this income directly into your dedicated travel savings account.

Another tip for boosting your savings: sort things out. Sell what you don't use, sort out your wardrobes and bookshelves - in short, bring in money and save in a simple and effective way. You'll always have a few extra euros in your travel kitty.

1. LIMIT YOUR DAY-TO-DAY SPENDING

Keep your travel objective in mind and limit unnecessary expenditure: coffee every morning in your favourite coffee shop (instead, take a thermos to the office - as well as being economical, it's also a gesture for the planet by reducing your waste), favour second-hand and home-made products. These are all small gestures that will help you save a few euros each day and see your savings grow over the weeks.